What is more attractive to you about the Guzzi V-twin vs. the Harley V-twin

[bpreynolds]

It's just my personal risk vs. reward evaluation.

To be clear, I'm not making a judgment call for anyone other than myself or trying to suggest that you should agree with me.

And I'm NOT saying people need to take no risks at all in their lives. We pick and chose what's worth it to us - just riding motorcycles in general means we're picking. Skiing/Snowboarding, Boating/Diving, hell, Karate, etc. all have some risks involved.

Just going fast in a straight line requires no skill and doesn't really provide me any thrill. I may cite 1/4 times as a metric of performance capability, but though I live only what 10 miles or so from a drag strip now (Atco), I don't see myself ever attending to watch or run something. It's short attention span theatre to me (even if I realize there's a lot of skill to a launch in that case).

To directly answer your question, I dunno what is more "dangerous" riding curves at speeds above the speed limit or riding highways for extended periods above the speed limits? The hazards are different, but so are the speeds. I mean even if I top out a 70 on a sweeping curve is that as dangerous as what might occur from an incident at 100+ on a straight away?

But at least the curve was fun.

I should probably add that I limit my speed on blind corners and I try to make sure I know if there is (or might be gravel). I go deep and look through them, and if I can see or tell to my satisfaction then I just slow down.

This also goes back to my recent 4-wheel purchase - a Jeep rather than a Focus RS/WRX. It's for the same reasons - not looking to go fast in a straight line and the Jeep is fun even AT the speed limit (go figure).

So yeah, I just have no NEED to do 90+ mph on the highway for any length of time (and every bike I own CAN do it for a short time if I wanted to).

  :1: I agree with everything you've said here.  I certainly enjoy driving curves and such more than highway work.  Me personally, however, I usually don't get any of those sweet curves on my daily commute consisting mostly of highways.  And the curvy roads/routes I could take otherwise are usually clogged with morning traffic and would actually be more dangerous for me to take than the highway.  So how do I get my biking smiles?  Not doing 130, that's for sure.  But it "might" be occasionally opening the throttle a bit more than I truly need to do on the highway.  And just to bring this discussion back a bit, I would say if I am going to be doing what I just described, I would very greatly rather be doing it on my Guzzi than the Harleys I've driven.  And yes, the number of Harley's I've driven are limited (older Sporty, newer Dyna).   

[Lcarlson]

If I ride at 90 mph on my Cali the buffeting from the Touring windshield is so intense that I can't see straight.

[bpreynolds]

If I ride at 90 mph on my Cali the buffeting from the Touring windshield is so intense that I can't see straight.

Oh look at this.  I see a whole Harley versus Guzzi accessories thread brewing.    

[lucian]

What I love most about the 1400 is it matters not weather your 1 or 2 up , it has the same power. You can set the cruise control at 90 mph and it will keep you right there regardless of hills or how loaded the bike is. They definitely sacrificed some top end speed for low and mid range torque.  I think they got the gearing and tuning perfect for what it's designed to do. The quick revving nature of the Guzzi motor makes it still fun for a more sporting ride if you feel the need. Kind of the best of both worlds for a cruiser. I regularly take mine for a one and a half hour highway ride to visit a sister, cruise set at 85 to 90 mph and it never misses a beat, never needs to downshift or anything , it's like auto pilot. 

[George_S]

If I ride at 90 mph on my Cali the buffeting from the Touring windshield is so intense that I can't see straight.

One word- lowers.

[George_S]

I'm almost sorry to admit that I agree with everything you said. 

At 61 I agree. At 25 I wouldn't have. Back then I enjoyed doing 125 on the NJTPK at 6AM on a Sunday.

Six months ago I decided to crack 100 just for the hell of it and to prove something to myself. Unfortunately, I chose an unfamiliar highway to try it. Three lanes, weekend morning, very light traffic, so I decide to do it in the right lane. Just as I'm about to hit the magic 100, I'm passing a semi rig that's in the center lane.   And guess what? Just as I'm about to accomplish my feat, I see that the right lane ends! Oh shit! Maybe there was a warning sign to that effect somewhere, but I was probably looking at the speedo at the time. Semi to my immediate left, and my lane ending into a highway shoulder that hasn't been cleaned of old tire recaps and other debris since at least the Nixon administration. I chose to slam the brakes and slide in behind the semi. Reality check. Butt pucker.

 

It's just my personal risk vs. reward evaluation.

To be clear, I'm not making a judgment call for anyone other than myself or trying to suggest that you should agree with me.

And I'm NOT saying people need to take no risks at all in their lives. We pick and chose what's worth it to us - just riding motorcycles in general means we're picking. Skiing/Snowboarding, Boating/Diving, hell, Karate, etc. all have some risks involved.

Just going fast in a straight line requires no skill and doesn't really provide me any thrill. I may cite 1/4 times as a metric of performance capability, but though I live only what 10 miles or so from a drag strip now (Atco), I don't see myself ever attending to watch or run something. It's short attention span theatre to me (even if I realize there's a lot of skill to a launch in that case).

To directly answer your question, I dunno what is more "dangerous" riding curves at speeds above the speed limit or riding highways for extended periods above the speed limits? The hazards are different, but so are the speeds. I mean even if I top out a 70 on a sweeping curve is that as dangerous as what might occur from an incident at 100+ on a straight away?

But at least the curve was fun.

I should probably add that I limit my speed on blind corners and I try to make sure I know if there is (or might be gravel). I go deep and look through them, and if I can see or tell to my satisfaction then I just slow down.

And coming full circle back to Harleys, I can have a lot of fun in a curve on a Harley at 10-20 mph slower than the same curve on say a Ducati. So does that make the Harley "safer"??? Potentially.

This also goes back to my recent 4-wheel purchase - a Jeep rather than a Focus RS/WRX. It's for the same reasons - not looking to go fast in a straight line and the Jeep is fun even AT the speed limit (go figure).

So yeah, I just have no NEED to do 90+ mph on the highway for any length of time (and every bike I own CAN do it for a short time if I wanted to).

[Sheepdog]

Here is reality. I enjoy a spirited ride on a curve-filled road and I enjoy riding out West where the speed limit is often 80mph, but...I'd really prefer to avoid unnecessary risks. For me, my Guzzi California answers these parameters very well. My Bonneville, too. Therefore, I believe I've selected the right bikes. YMMV...

[SmithSwede]

Mike makes an interesting point.   Maybe the Harleys are more "content" at the pace of 65-70 mph or so.  Whereas the Guzzis are still happy at the 70-90 mph pace.

I like a 65 mph pace when I'm in the mood, but a lot of times it needs to be 75-85 mph.  The Stone can easily do that.  Not so sure about the comparable Harley.  But no personal experience with the Harley. 

Know what?  Maybe I should just rent a dang Harley so I would have some personal experience.  With a rental Harley I would not have to worry too much about that rear cylinder overheating.   

[Tobit]

Around here if you're not doing at least 80 on the interstate between Memphis and NashVegas you'd better watch what's bearing down on your 6.  Made that run three times by car in the last two days.

In Arkansas I hit an indicated 100 mph on the street glide during a multi semi pass with traffic on my tail between Little Rock and Memphis. Not my usual mode of travel but it's a pretty barren highway in places.

[Kev m]

I'm almost sorry to admit that I agree with everything you said. 

At 61 I agree. At 25 I wouldn't have. Back then I enjoyed doing 125 on the NJTPK at 6AM on a Sunday.

Six months ago I decided to crack 100 just for the hell of it and to prove something to myself. Unfortunately, I chose an unfamiliar highway to try it. Three lanes, weekend morning, very light traffic, so I decide to do it in the right lane. Just as I'm about to hit the magic 100, I'm passing a semi rig that's in the center lane.   And guess what? Just as I'm about to accomplish my feat, I see that the right lane ends! Oh shit! Maybe there was a warning sign to that effect somewhere, but I was probably looking at the speedo at the time. Semi to my immediate left, and my lane ending into a highway shoulder that hasn't been cleaned of old tire recaps and other debris since at least the Nixon administration. I chose to slam the brakes and slide in behind the semi. Reality check. Butt pucker.

Ha ha, Fwiw, I'm no saint.

Ask me offline what my wife's Ducati will do on the long straight, flat, roads in/around the Wharton forest.

It's part of why I sold the Buell after moving here a little over a year ago.

I'm a slow learner, but I'm finally starting to understand myself.

And I still GET the thrill, but chose instead to find other paths.

[Kev m]

Smith, give it a try sometime, or just stop by if you make it this way. Just remember they are surprisingly different from model line to model line.

Around here if you're not doing at least 80 on the interstate between Memphis and NashVegas you'd better watch what's bearing down on your 6.  Made that run three times by car in the last two days.

Ya know, I hear that sort of thing from time-to-time but my experience differs a bit. I've ridden in LA, NYC, Philly, DC, Atlanta and many of them on their highways and beltways in rush hour. I have found that I can easily go 5-10 mph below traffic if I stick to the right lane (leftish portion of lane) and create sorta an eddy in the traffic flow.

Yeah, if you take the middle or left lanes in that kind of traffic and speed but go too slow, yeah, it's a problem. But if you stay right, I've never had a lick of a problem.

[Rough Edge racing]

 I rarely ride on Interstates but when I do it's always a bit faster than traffic keep away from the packs of cars/trucks. That usually means about 75-80 MPH......My 97 Buell with it's rubber mounted Sportster engine gets smooth  at 60 mph (3000 rpm in 5th) and very smooth at 80.. And at those speeds it responds instantly to a slight twist of the throttle. At 4500 rpm the engine through it's two into one exhaust takes on a sound like a big V-8 with  radial aircraft engine overtones...My Walter Mitty inner self images flying a WW2 P&W 2800 powered Corsair...Duck down and twist to the stop ,the bikes bike pulls steady to about 125-130 when you feel the  RPM limiter .... Backing down the exhaust crackling on the over run, eyes watering ,nose dripping I'm grinning like an idiot inside the helmet....it's still a rush at 68 years old....

[Kev m]

I rarely ride on Interstates but when I do it's always a bit faster than traffic keep away from the packs of cars/trucks. That usually means about 75-80 MPH......

I understand and use that technique too at times, which brings me back to that 40-80 range I mentioned earlier.

If traffic is moving faster than that, I tend to switch to my right lane chill technique.

[Kiwi_Roy]

I love nothing better than dropping my $4000 VII Sport into top gear at about 100 while passing a $30,000 Harley up a steep hill

[Kev m]

I love nothing better than dropping my $4000 VII Sport into top gear at about 100 while passing a $30,000 Harley up a steep hill

You know how few $30k Harleys there are? It's such a small number it's ridiculous.

[rocker59]

If Cal 14 tops out at "only" 117 mph, it makes me wonder if that is electronically limited.

Based on the numbers, it should be faster than a Tonti California.

[oldbike54]

I love nothing better than dropping my $4000 VII Sport into top gear at about 100 while passing a $30,000 Harley up a steep hill

 Yeah , except in my case it is a $1200.00 Jackal doing the deed   

  Dusty

[Sheepdog]

If Cal 14 tops out at "only" 117 mph, it makes me wonder if that is electronically limited.

Based on the numbers, it should be faster than a Tonti California.

Those figures are likely for the touring version. That windshield is likely to slow things down...

[Sheepdog]

You know how few $30k Harleys there are? It's such a small number it's ridiculous.

I guess it depends on whether you add in the farkles and the fringe...

[oldbike54]

I guess it depends on whether you add in the farkles and the fringe...

 My nephew the HD salesman sells a lot of $30K bikes , or did before the oil patch went udders up here in Oklahoma . He says the reason you never see them is because they never leave the garage .

  Dusty

[bad Chad]

There are many 30K HDs around Chicago.  I see them often all summer long.  Sure there are many more than are well under 30k, but to say the number is "ridiculous" is incorrect.

[Cool Runnings]

There are many 30K HDs around Chicago.  I see them often all summer long.  Sure there are many more than are well under 30k, but to say the number is "ridiculous" is incorrect.

30k would be a well equipped hog.

[Kev m]

I've been riding Harleys for decades. I've belonged to Hog and ABATE chapters, I've helped run a toy run with tens of thousands of Harleys in attendance. I've got some well heeled Harley riding friends etc.

The number of $30k Harleys I've encountered is ridiculously low.

That's not too say they don't exist, but the chances you see one on the road is pretty low.

Not compared to the couple of million that are <$20k.

[oldbike54]

30k would be a well equipped hog.

 Almost any CVO model will come in at more than $30K . You might be surprised at how many $24K Electro Luxes , er , well something like that , leave the dealers blinged out to $28K .

  Dusty

[mjptexas]

Wait a minute.  Top speed on a Cali 1400 is only 117mph?     
Didn't expect Panigale numbers, still surprising though it doesn't mean much to me in general.  Kinda like this thread.   

It'll beak 120 mph.  Redline limited.  And, it pulls strong all the way to the end.

[Cool Runnings]

Almost any CVO model will come in at more than $30K . You might be surprised at how many $24K Electro Luxes , er , well something like that , leave the dealers blinged out to $28K .

  Dusty

Don't forget the Geezer Glides.! 

[Kev m]

Almost any CVO model will come in at more than $30K . You might be surprised at how many $24K Electro Luxes , er , well something like that , leave the dealers blinged out to $28K .

  Dusty

CVO's are very limited production.

And $24-28k ain't $30k.

[Cool Runnings]

A new Road Glide is 25k now. 

[oldbike54]

CVO's are very limited production.

And $24-28k ain't $30k.

 Limited production maybe , but my nephew sold three CVO models to one guy , in one year . How does one turn a $24K HD into a $60K HD ? Finance it through HD at 21.99 % for seven years 

 Dusty

[drums4money]

Visually, I see some HD offerings that are very interesting.  Psychologically, I enjoy the lack of any perceived obligation to wear a black leather vest with patches pledging allegiance.

I like the sportster. 
KevM- does the perception exist among HD owners that the sporty isn't a "real" Harley?  Like the Porsche guys who didn't regard the 944/928 as a "real" Porsche. . . I don't have any local acquaintances who move in both circles, so I'm not sure who to ask.
I occasionally see some sporty's that strike me as a good platform to personalize beyond simply bolting on chrome farkles and wake-the-dead exhausts.